Major Announcement Confirms The End to Chicago Sports Network's Blunder of a Service

Chicago sports fans just got the news they've been waiting for. The Chicago Sports Network (CHSN) is officially joining Comcast's Xfinity cable lineup this Friday, marking a major change in how fans will be able to watch the White Sox, Bulls, and Blackhawks going forward.

Launched in October 2024, CHSN had already partnered with DirecTV, Astound/RCN, FuboTV, and its own direct-to-consumer streaming service. But its absence on Comcast - the region's largest cable provider - left more than a million fans without access to the service. That changes now, though access comes at a premium: CHSN will be available only on Xfinity's Ultimate tier, which costs an additional $20 per month.

The delay came from tough negotiations. CHSN pushed to be placed on Comcast's more affordable Popular tier, but Comcast held firm. Another point of contention was CHSN's free over-the-air broadcast on WJYS subchannels 62.2 and 62.3, which Comcast claimed made it harder to justify charging for the channel, despite inconsistent reception.

Throughout the standoff, CHSN leaned heavily on its $29.99/month direct streaming platform and availability on FuboTV to reach fans. Now, with Comcast on board, CHSN is closer to getting in the market - though it comes at a cost for many fans.

Meanwhile, the Cubs' Marquee Sports Network remains on the Popular tier for now but is expected to move up to the Ultimate tier next season, following the same trend.

Bottom line: A new era of Chicago sports broadcasting is here, but fans will need to pay a hefty price for a subscription.

After horrible viewing numbers on CHSN over the past season, with the Hawks averaging 6k viewers, and the Chicago Bulls, 10k, this change could bring back some fans to the platform. It's interesting to note that in the prior season, the Bulls averaged around 25k viewers per game.